| Part 6 � Arry?� Aphrodite appeared in the halls of Ares� home. Ares flashed in to join her, � What?� he sighed. � Here, take Bliss for me,� she handed the small Godling to his grandfather. � What?� he exclaimed. � Oh come on, please Ar. Everyone else is busy, and I promised Cupie I�d take care of him, and then I remembered I have this thing and�� � Enough, fine I�ll take him,� Ares shook his head and sighed as his sister bundled his grandson into his arms, and disappeared. � Gwandpa!� Bliss wrapped his little arms round Ares� neck and gave him a big kiss. Ares smiled and blew a raspberry on Bliss� neck. Bliss giggled and nearly fell out of Ares� arms from wriggling. Ares hoisted Bliss up onto his shoulders and took him to his bedroom. He waved a hand and Cupid�s old toys appeared on the floor. Bliss flew over Ares� head, tumbling across the floor as he landed. � Oopsadaisy, careful sweetie, it took your daddy 2 years before he could land properly,� Ares chuckled as he remembered Cupid�s early flying attempts. � Me fly�s good as daddy did?� Bliss asked. � Course,� Ares grinned. � Better even.� � Kewl!� � Kewl?� Ares started to laugh. � Daddy Stwife says it,� said Bliss, his little face scrunched up into a frown. � I know he does,� said Ares, he ruffled Bliss� hair fondly. � Daddy say, he and Stwifey gonna be daddies togevah, gwandpa,� Bliss bounced excitedly. Ares frowned, � Daddies together?� � Yeah, daddy�s pweg, pweg,� Bliss huffed in frustration. � Pregnant?� asked Ares. Bliss nodded happily. Ares had to sit down for a moment. His son was pregnant? Well that was quite a shock. He wondered who else might know. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- � Xena!� Xena, Gabrielle and Joxer stopped and looked round. � Hercules, Iolaus, where�d you guys come from?� Xena smiled at them. � We were in Thrace, heard you passed through, thought we�d try and catch you,� said Hercules with a grin, then he faltered. � J-joxer?� Hercules and Iolaus stared at him in shock. Joxer flushed. � Hi guys,� he said in greeting. � What happened to you?� Iolaus grinned at him. � Ares happened to him,� Gabrielle answered for Joxer, somewhat huffily. Joxer frowned. � He gave me a gift,� he said shortly. Hercules snorted, � Ares doesn�t give, he only takes. He�s obviously using you to get to Xena somehow.� Joxer laughed, � Really, by giving me some clothes? Yeah I can see how that would help him get to Xena.� Iolaus and Xena exchanged glances and had to look away quickly holding in laughter, as Hercules spluttered at the unexpected reply. � Joxer!� exclaimed Gabrielle in surprise. � Gabrielle,� said Joxer imitating her tone. He really was getting fed up with those two blaming Ares for absolutely everything. � Um, okay, so Xena, where are you guys headed?� asked Iolaus. � Lerna,� she replied, her lips still twitching from contained laughter. She was enjoying this unexpected side of Joxer. Iolaus nodded, � What do you reckon, Herc? Lerna sound good to you?� Hercules nodded slowly, � Sure.� Hercules and Iolaus fell into step with Gabrielle and Joxer, following Argo, and an awkward silence fell. Joxer fell back slightly to avoid the reproachful glances he was getting from Gabby. It was going to be hard to get away from all four of them and visit Ares� temple, and he still had no idea what he could offer as thanks for his rescue. Ares mewed and he shifted his pack so he could pull the little kitten out of the side pocket where it slept. � You hungry Ares?� he slipped the kitten round his neck to free his hands again. � Ares?� Iolaus turned to look at him with an inquiring frown. Joxer shrugged, � He was a gift, he came with the name.� � He�s pretty cute,� said Iolaus, � Someone obviously likes you.� Joxer looked thoughtful, then nodded, � Yeah, I guess.� They continued the journey in silence, Joxer lost in thought while he fed Ares. It took them the rest of the day to reach Lerna. Once they�d arrived, Xena and Hercules headed out to look for supplies while Iolaus, Gabrielle and Joxer went to find lodgings for the night. � Iolaus,� whispered Joxer while Gabrielle was bargaining. � What is it?� � I�ve got to go somewhere, can you just tell the others I�ll be back later?� Joxer asked. � Course, I won�t tell them you�re going to visit Ares� temple,� Iolaus smiled kindly. Joxer flushed, � How, how�d you know?� � It�s not obvious, don�t worry, I�ve just seen what you�re like when Ares is around. And the way you stood up to Herc and Gabby today, well,� Iolaus shrugged. � Now go, here comes Gabby.� Joxer made his escape quickly, hurrying to the temple. If he was lucky, it�d be fairly empty at this time of day. He always liked to take his time if he could. In fact the temple was completely empty, not even a priest in sight. Joxer made his way to the altar and statue, kneeling down in front of them. He put down his pack and put Ares on the floor, letting him explore. � Ares, I, I don�t really know what to say, or how to thank you,� he stopped, words seemed so insignificant somehow. He stared up at the statue. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- � Gwandpa, look,� said Bliss, he was playing with one of the scrying mirrors Ares used to keep an eye on his temples. � Kitty, can I play with kitty?� Ares frowned, a cat in one of his temples. Then he sucked in a breath as he heard Joxer�s hesitant words. � Come on then kiddo, let�s go and play with the kitty,� he picked Bliss up and transported them down to the temple. Joxer fell back in shock as Ares and Bliss walked out of the statue. � Joxer,� said Ares by way of greeting. Joxer blinked at him in shock. Bliss bounced in his grandfather�s arms, � C�mon, gwandpa, want kitty.� � What do you say?� asked Ares, raising his eyebrows at Bliss. � Please.� � Kiss first,� said Ares, grinning as Bliss kissed his cheek and then flew out of his arms unsteadily to look for the kitten. Ares turned his attention to Joxer. � How are you feeling?� he asked. Joxer swallowed and took a deep breath, � I�m, I�m fine, thank you.� Ares smiled, � Good� you look, uh, you look good.� Joxer�s eyes widened, � Um, okay.� � Gwandpa?� Bliss flew onto Ares� head. � Woah, careful,� Ares laughed and pulled Bliss down. � What is it?� � Can I have the kitty?� � I don�t know sweetie, you�ll have to ask Joxer. It�s his kitty,� Ares replied. Bliss turned his attention to Joxer for the first time, and he cocked his head, his face scrunching up thoughtfully. Then he smiled. � Hello Joxie!� he flew over to Joxer, who caught him neatly. � Can I have your kitty, Joxie?� he asked. Joxer looked hesitant, � Well I guess, he was a present, but I don�t know who from,� he paused when Ares frowned slightly, � Promise to take good care of him?� Bliss nodded solemnly, � I pwomise.� � Well okay then, Ares is yours,� said Joxer. � Kitty�s called Awes?� laughed Bliss, � Gwandpa, Joxie called kitty �Awes�.� � I know,� said Ares, grinning at his grandson. � Go and play, I want to talk to Joxer.� Bliss nodded. Joxer looked worried. � What?� asked Ares, � Are you still afraid of me?� Joxer shook his head hesitantly, � I guess not really. You�ve been� um good to me.� Ares smiled broadly. � Thanks for, uh you know, saving me.� Ares� face darkened slightly, � It should never have happened, I should have killed him before he could ever have touched you again,� he thundered. Joxer stared at him in surprise and confusion. Ares sighed and sat on his altar. � You are my best follower Joxer, of course I would save you,� he said. � I-I�m your best follower?� Ares nodded. � Wow,� Joxer breathed out heavily and sat down next to Ares. � But I�m a terrible warrior.� Ares chuckled, � Yes, you are. But you were never trained properly and that armour!� Ares shook his head. � How you even managed to stand upright I�ll never know!� Joxer smiled, � It�s certainly easier to move in these,� he rubbed his hands on his leather pants. Ares followed the motion with his eyes and swallowed hard, shifting minutely to adjust himself. � I never thanked you properly for the clothes,� Joxer continued. Ares tore his eyes away from Joxer�s leather encased legs and grinned at him, � That was nothing. It�s something I�ve been meaning to do for a while.� � Really?� Joxer raised his eyebrows. Ares nodded, � It�s already improved your balance, had you noticed?� Joxer frowned thoughtfully, � Hey, yeah, you�re right,� he paused, then flushed. � Well I mean, of course you�re right. I just�� � Joxer it�s okay. I want you to feel like you can talk to me like, like a friend,� Ares smiled a little hesitantly. Joxer blinked at him, then nodded, � I�d like that,� he said quietly. � Gwandpa?� Bliss toddled over to them carrying Ares the kitten. He yawned widely and rubbed his eyes. Ares jumped off the altar and picked Bliss up, then sat back down, � Someone looks ready for bed.� � Can I have a story?� � Oh I think I can manage that,� he ruffled Bliss�s hair. � You�re good with him,� said Joxer. � There�s no need to sound so surprised,� Ares smiled to show he was joking. � I wasn�t too involved in Cupid�s upbringing. I don�t want to miss out with my grandkids,� he smiled gently at the thought of Cupid being pregnant. � You thought about having any more of your own?� Joxer asked. Ares was silent for so long that Joxer was a little worried. He put his hand on Ares� shoulder. � Ares, are you okay?" Ares forced a smile, � Yes I�m fine. I have thought about it, but I don�t think it�s ever going to happen,� he put his hand over Joxer�s. � Joxer!�, � Ares!� exclaimed Gabrielle and Hercules. Ares growled low in his chest. He leaned forward and whispered in Joxer�s ear, � We'll talk again soon.� Then he and Bliss disappeared. Joxer sighed in disappointment. Xena and Iolaus exchanged glances. Xena raised a questioning eyebrow and Iolaus shrugged slightly in reply. Ares and Joxer had looked very comfortable together, sitting so close. And Ares had looked almost gentle with Bliss in his arms. � By the Gods Joxer, what were you thinking coming here?� asked Hercules. � What did Ares want? Are you okay?� asked Gabrielle. Joxer shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Then he stood up. � To thank my God. Nothing and yes I�m fine,� he replied shortly. � And what exactly are you doing here?� he glanced questioningly at Iolaus. � Sorry Jox, they guessed,� Iolaus said with a shrug. Hercules rounded on him, � You knew he was here?� � He has a right to worship whomever he wants, and in private.� Hercules frowned at his friend. � Come on,� said Xena quickly. � Let�s get back to the inn.� -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eris watched the five friends leave her brother�s temple, thoughtfully. Things were progressing quite well, but why wasn�t Strife there? She frowned, silly question really. He was probably with Cupid. She sighed, Strife had been in love with Cupid for� she blinked, Gods so long she couldn�t even remember! She just couldn�t bear the thought of Strife having his heart broken, the way she had. One glorious summer, that�s all she�d had, before he�d found out exactly who she was. Oh, he�d known she was a Goddess, that wasn�t the problem, after all he was a demi-god himself. But when he�d discovered they shared Zeus as a father, he couldn�t get away from her fast enough. She closed her eyes, the pain still as raw as the day he�d left. He�d never even acknowledged Strife�s existence, which is why she would never, ever tell Strife who his father was. Time to pay the bastard a little visit. Her face twisted into a bitter smile. It had been a while since she�d put a little discord into his life. |